Share “World Peace anticipating early return from...”

World Peace anticipating early return from surgery

Published on NewsOK
Modified: April 8, 2013 at 5:15 pm •
Published: April 8, 2013

Advertisement

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Metta World Peace plans to play in the Los Angeles Lakers' next game, less than two weeks after undergoing left knee surgery.

World Peace participated in drills with the Lakers on Monday, and the veteran forward said he's ready to return nearly a month earlier than anticipated after surgery on a torn meniscus. With just five games left to get into playoff position, the Lakers (40-37) host New Orleans on Tuesday night.

"We've got a chance to make a push for this championship run," World Peace told reporters after practice at the Lakers' training complex. "We all need it. All the guys under contract, injured or not injured, we all need each other to make a run at this thing."

After a tumultuous season, the big-budget Lakers are running out of time even to make the playoffs. They trail Utah (41-37) for the eighth postseason spot in the Western Conference, and the Jazz hold the tiebreaker on Los Angeles.

The Lakers thought World Peace would be out until early May after undergoing surgery March 28, following a typical recovery time for knee surgery.

But there's nothing typical about the former Ron Artest, and the Lakers' defensive stopper says he feels healthy enough to play because his knee didn't swell following surgery, surprising his doctors.

"I think you try to prepare in the summertime for the season, and I think the way I eat prepares me for times like this," World Peace said. "There was no swelling. You can take a lot of medicine for swelling, but if you eat right, when you get injured, the swelling is minimized. Off meniscus surgery, you can play, but the swelling is what keeps you from playing."